Can Machine Learning Decode Depression?

The Challenges of Depression Depression affects almost 15 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability among U.S adults, yet many people with depression continue to go undiagnosed and untreated. Depression remains a condition that is identified through a clinical assessment focused on signs and symptoms, and there is currently no available diagnostic blood test or scan for depression. Additionally, choosing the right depression treatment can be tricky, as it remains difficult to predict how a person will respond to a particular medication, or to cognitive behavioral therapy (talk therapy). Furthermore, a national shortage of psychiatrists means patients may not be able to access timely medical care. From my own perspective, I think of “depression”, or more specifically “major depressive disorder”, as an umbrella term that encompasses many biologically…